Recessed handle



06h 1964 J. A. M TAVISH ETAL 3,153,491

RECESSED HANDLE Filed May 10, 1963 James 4. Mac TQV/Jfi Car/0U (f Raw/ey INVENTORS ym wall-v A 51590 fi/MQM ATZ'ORNEYS United States Patent O 3,153,431 RECESSED HANDLE James A. Mac'liavish and Qarroli .l. Rawley, Houston, Tex, assignors to Texas Tennessee Industries, inc, Houston, Tex., a corporation of Texas Filed May 10, 1963, Ser. No. 279,471 4 Claims. (Cl. 220-9) The present invention relates to an improved picnic or ice chest, and more, particularly to such a chest which includes a recessed handle which may be pulled out for use and automatically withdraws when not in use.

Conventional picnic or ice chests typically include a means for carrying the chest to different physical locations. In the past, such means have typically been metal handles which protrude from the end of the chest. Other carrying means have included recesses with an appropriate finger grip in the upper part thereof.

By far, the most convenient manner in which to transport a chest is by a positively gripable handle which will not slip out of the hand of the user. However, it is most important that the handle be capable of withdrawing into an appropriate recess in the chest so that it will not be inadvertently damaged nor protrude to snag an unwary user of the chest.

The present invention is directed to an improved recessed handle for particular use on a picnic chest having none of the foregoing disadvantages associated with prior art structures.

Further, the present invention provides a handle which may be pulled outwardly for use and will automatically return to a retracted position.

Additionally, the present invention is directed to a recessed handle which is so constructed that it may be rigidly locked or secured to the picnic chest in such a manner that it may not be inadvertently dislodged, such as by tearing the surface skin of the chest in use.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a recessed handle which is stable under the environmental conditions typically encountered by a picnic chest, such as both low and high temperatures, and corrosive atmospheres, such as are encountered at the beach.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a recessed handle which is easy to manufacture, and which requires a minimum of parts, as well as giving a pleasing appearance.

Other and further objects, features and advantages will be apparent from the following description of a presently preferred embodiment of the invention, given for the purpose of disclosure, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, where like character references designate like parts throughout the several views, and where:

FIGURE 1 is an end view of a picnic chest showing the present invention installed thereon,

FIGURE 2 is a partial sectional side view, taken along the line 22 of FIGURE 1, and

FIGURE 3 is an exploded perspective view of the recessed handle of the present invention.

The invention generally comprises a particular plastic handle which is attached to a reinforcing plate with an expandable or blind rivet through the outer wall or skin of a picnic chest, the whole being foamed in place.

Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to FIGURE 1, the reference numeral ltl generally designates a picnic chest which includes a top 12, receptacle 14, hinge 16 joining the top 12 to the receptacle 14, latch 18 and drain cock 20 mounted adjacent the bottom 22. Mounted in the end of the chest 10, within a recess 24 is the handle 26.

Referring now to FIGURES 2 and 3, wherein a cross- Patented Oct. 20, 1964 section of the complete recessed handle is shown, it is seen that the handle 26 includes a generally cylindrically gripping portion 28 which is attached to a generally triangular base section 3%) spaced therefrom by vertical members 32. The gripping portion 23 may include notches (not shown) for a more secure grip. Further, it will be noted that the handle 26 is set substantially within the recess 24 formed in the receptacle 14 of the chest Ill. The body of the receptacle 14 generally includes an inner skin or wall 34, and outer skin or Wall 36, with the intervening space being filled with an adhering insulating material, such as the plastic foam 33.

The bottom portion of the recess 24 in the outer wall 36 includes a flat or plane generally vertical surface 40 against which the base 30 of the handle 26 is placed. Mounted within the space between the inner wall 34 and outer wall 36 at the flat surface 49 is a reinforcing plate 42. The handle 26 is attached through the outer wall 36 to the reinfocing plate 42 by a fastening means, such as the rivet 44.

The reinforcing plate 32 includes a fiat base portion 46 which has the same general configuration as the base 39 of the handle 26, and an angular beam 48 which is spaced from the base portion 46 by the diagonal legs 50.

Referring particularly to FIGURE 3, it will be noted that the rectangular cross-section base 34) of the handle 26 generally comprises a triangular section when viewed from the front or back of the handle. In this regard, it is well to point out that the present handle 26 may be utilized at either end of the picnic chest 19, for it is entirely symmetrical. One side of the generally triangular base 36 extends horizontally along the bottom of the handle 26 while the angle of the triangle facing the horizontal side extends into the space between the cylindrical portion 28 and base 39. Extending through the base 30 of the handle 26 are three rivet holes 52 which are utilized to secure the handle 26 to the receptacle 14 of the chest 10. While two of the holes 52' are placed below the vertical members, it is to be particularly noted that the third hole 52 is placed within the angle op posite the horizontal side of the base 36 and that this final hole 52" is spaced vertically above the two holes 52 which are at either end of the horizontal side.

In the construction of a picnic chest, it is important that the inner and outer walls 34 and 36 be resistant to the environment which is anticipated. Such environmental conditions which may affect the choice of material are (l) the temperature range expected, which may vary from perhaps 20 F. to F., (2) the extremes in atmosphere from natural air to salt air, and (3) the effect of prolonged exposure under any of these conditions to sunlight. In this regard, it has been determined that the outer wall 36 is best constructed of a styrene copolymer, such as the product acrylonitrile-butadiene, which material is not only resistant to the various environmental conditions mentioned, but further exhibits abrasion resistance and high impact strength. As regarding a suitable material for the inner wall 34, the extremes of sunlight and abrasion resistance need not be anticipated, consequently many other materials are suitable.

With regard to the handle 26, it is particularly important that it be made of a material which is sufficiently yieldable so that the vertical members 32 may be pulled outwardly and the cylindrical portion 28 firmly grasped when carrying the chest 10. Under these conditions, it is readily seen that the vertical members 32 must likewise resist any tendency to be permanently deformed when the cylindrical portion 28 is pulled out of the recess 24. Consequently, the particular material specified for the handle is most important.

If a typical plastic such as polyethylene is utilized to make the handle 26, and if the cylindrical portion 28 is repeatedly pulled outwardly from the recess 24 to enable a better grip thereon, polyethylene exhibits a property known as stress cracking under load, which results in small fissures forming in the vertical member 32 and the ultimate parting of the members. Yet another plastic, poly propylene, summarily develops stress cracking under load at low temperatures. However, a mixture of the two, known in the trade as polyalmer does not exhibit stress cracking under the environmental conditions anticipated with a picnic chest. Consequently, polyalmer is the preferred material.

Additionally, a further advantage flows from the use of polyalmer for the handle 26. For convenience in transporting the chest 10, not only must the cylindrical portion 28 be capable of being pulled outwardly from the recess 24, and capable of withstanding the stress of a loaded receptacle 14, but it should also exhibit the property of the cylindrical portion 28 remaining outside of the recess 24 for a short length of time after the handle 26 has once been grasped, so that it may be grasped again for a final adjustment in positioning the chest 10. On the other hand, the cylindrical portion should in time return within the recess 24, as shown in FIGURE 2, so that it will not snag the user of the chest. This property is known as a plastic memory, a property which is exhibited by polyalmer plastics such that once the stress is removed, the particular part will return to its original shape or position.

Thus, advantageously, the present invention, through the use of the preferred material, polyalmer, provides a recessed handle which exhibits plastic memory, and which is not subject to stress cracking, and which is environmentally stable.

Comparing FIGURES 2 and 3, it will be seen that the expandable or blind rivet 44, prior to assembly, generally includes a core 54 therein. The inside end of the core 54 generally includes an enlarged portion 56 which is utilized to upset the inner end of the rivet 44, as shown in FIGURE 2. Thus, in a conventional manner, when the reinforcing plate 42 is placed inside the outer wall 36, and the handle 26 placed on the flat portion 40 of the outer wall 36, and the rivet 44 pushed through the mating holes, the core 54 of the rivet 44 may be pulled outwardly, thus causing the enlarged portion 56 to upset the rivet 44, thereby securing the assembly. The presently preferred material for the rivet 44 is anodized aluminum, although other conventional materials and fastening means may be utilized.

With particular reference now to FIGURE 3, the reinforcing plate 42 generally includes holes 58 which mate with the holes 52 in the base 30 of the handle 26. All of the holes 58 are located in the fiat portion 46 of the reinforcing plate 42. Extending from the fiat portion 46 are the diagonal or inclined legs 50 which terminate in the angle beam 48. The angle beam 48 generally includes a crease 60 extending along the length thereof, which crease is utilized to add mechanical strength to the reinforcing plate 42. The presently preferred material for the reinforcing plate 42 is sheet steel.

In assembling the handle to the receptacle 14, as was previously mentioned, the reinforcing plate 42, outer Wall 36 and handle 26 are all joined together by means of the rivets 44. Thereupon, the foam 38 is placed between the inner wall 34 and outer wall 36 and expanded therein. In so doing, the foam adheres to both the inner and outer wall 34 and 36, as well as tothe plate 42. Due to the presence of the crease 60 in the plate 42 any stress resulting from lifting the handle 26 is distributed not only to the outer wall 36, but through the reinforcing plate 42 to the entire body of foam 38. In this manner, the present invention advantageously increases the mechanical strength of the entire handle assembly.

Additionally, due to the vertical spacing of the hole 52 in the angle opposite the hypotenuse of the base 30 a lever is formed which tends to pull the vertical members 32 of the handle 26 back into the recess 24.

Further, to insure the complete ultimate retraction of the handle 26 into recess 24 the provision of utilizing polyalmer plastic advantageously results in a handle which exhibits plastic memory.

The present invention, therefore, is well adapted to carry out the objects and attain the ends and advantages mentioned as well as others inherent therein. While a presently preferred embodiment of the invention has been given for the purpose of disclosure, numerous changes in the details of construction, and the combination, shape, size, arrangement of parts, and uses may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. The improvement in a picnic chest including:

a receptacle having spaced inner and outer walls,

a plane surface on the outer wall,

the outer wall having a recess immediately above the plane surface,

a handle mounted adjacent the recess, said handle including a gripping portion, a generally triangular base, and vertical members connecting the base with the gripping portion,

the handle composed of a material having plastic memthe triangular base having one side of the triangle generally horizontal and including mounting holes at both ends of said side and a third mounting hole spaced vertically upwardly in the angle opposite the said side, I

a reinforcing plate mounted between the inner and outer walls, said plate including a triangular portion mating with the triangular base of the handle, an angle beam, and inclined legs connecting the beam with the triangular portion,

the triangular portion having holes mating with the holes in the triangular base,

rivets interconnecting the plate, outer wall and handle through the mating holes at the plane surface, and

expanded foam filling the space between and adhering to the inner and outer walls and surrounding the angle beam.

2. A handle assembly for attachment on a plane surface immediately below a recess in the outer wall of a receptacle including:

a handle having a base, a gripping portion and vertical members interconnecting the base and gripping portion,

the handle composed of a yieldable material,

a reinforcing plate having a mounting portion, inclined legs extending from the portion, and a beam interconnecting the legs,

first fastening means securing the handle to the plate through the outer wall at either end of the base,

second fastening means securing the handle to the plate at a point vertically spaced upwardly from the first fastening means, and

expanded foam adhering to the inside of the outer wall and encapsulating the beam.

3. The invention of claim 2 wherein the handle is composed of the plastic polyalmer.

4. The invention of claim 3 wherein all of the -fastening means comprise rivets.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,529,124 Glidden et al Mar. 10, 1925 2,086,489 Bowersox July 6, 1937 3,009,214- Thompson Nov. 21, 1961 3,070,253 Brown Dec. 25, 1962 

1. THE IMPROVEMENT IN A PICNIC CHEST INCLUDING: A RECEPTACLE HAVING SPACED INNER AND OUTER WALLS, A PLANE SURFACE ON THE OUTER WALL, THE OUTER WALL HAVING A RECESS IMMEDIATELY ABOVE THE PLANE SURFACE A HANDLE MOUNTED ADJACENT THE RECESS, SAID HANDLE INCLUDING A GRIPPING PORTION, A GENERALLY TRIANGULAR BASE, AND VERTICAL MEMBERS CONNECTING THE BASE WITH THE GRIPPING PORTION, THE TRIANGULAR BASE HAVING ONE SIDE OF THE TRIANGLE GENORY, THE TRIANGULAR BASE HAVING ONE SIDE OF THE TRIANGLE GENERALLY HORIZONTAL AND INCLUDING MOUNTING HOLES AT BOTH ENDS OF SAID SIDE AND A THIRD MOUNTING HOLE SPACED VERTICALLY UPWARDLY IN THE ANGLE OPPOSITE THE SAID SIDE, 